SEATTLE – Inside a mostly empty Seahawks locker room late Saturday, Thomas Rawls limped toward his locker. His ankles appeared bruised and swollen, and he stepped gingerly, shuffling a few inches at a time across the blue carpet underfoot.
Rawls sat down, took a deep breath and stared off into space. He stayed that way for a minute, saying nothing. His trance was interrupted by his coach, Pete Carroll, who was strolling past in a dark overcoat on his way out of CenturyLink Field after the Seahawks toppled the Lions, 26–6, in their wild-card matchup. Carroll knelt on both knees and Rawls leaned forward and Carroll whispered something in his ear.